Just wanted to note: Andy drove us to and from church today!----He's doing a great job of learning to drive and learning the ins and outs of a stickshift at the same time---it's been a little tough on my nerves, and he's doing really well at not taking it personally when I flinch, say"STOP"!!!, put my foot on my imaginary brake, and slide down in my seat while covering my eyes......I think we're going to live through this.....

Here's a picture that Pete took at a recent indoor track meet---there's Andy, our runner!--not sure if it's before the race or after, but he sure has grown up, hasn't he?---he finally let Emma give him a haircut a little while ago--so now we can see his eyes a little more often----he's a wonderful kid...














Here's an action-shot from a cross-country meet this fall---it's really amazing to us how completely Andy has embraced the running---he regularly puts in 6-8 mile runs, often riding his bike in to town (5 miles) to show up to practice, where he'll run 5 or 6 miles, and then bike home!...oh, and in case I would EVER FORGET---his coach awarded him the Most Improved Runner Award for 2009---he had taken over 6 minutes off his 5K time!---
Yay, Andy!!!

Ice in our Backyard!!

Here's the Lamprey River--the top photo is looking downstream, the bottom one is looking upstream--we're having the best skating in years.....Pedro and I were out yesterday, exploring--we can skate all the way up to the rapids, which is at least a quarter of a mile away--I think it's probably close to a half-mile trek--it's so much fun!--there are times when it's such a treat to live on the banks of a river---we just wear our slippers out to where we've put a bench out on the ice, lace up our skates, and we're good to go!---it's been so cold that the ice is plenty thick everywhere---and you can see that Sadie likes to come out on the ice, too!----here I am, skating back to the bench--there's the house---we really are skating in the backyard!!!

I took Sadie out for her walk one morning--it was early December, I think---and when I saw this view of a nearby farm from the back, I just had to go back and get my camera---I've taken this walk SO MANY times over the years, with little children, with friends, with dogs, and by myself---but I always love this view--I look forward to it, and stop and savor it every time....---on this early morning walk, the bank of clouds was just lifting itself enough to reveal a tiny strip of blue sky....over the years, I've sworn to myself that someday, I'm going to set up an easel and paint this spot, but on this morning I thought---maybe it's time I at least take a picture---who knows if I'll ever get around to painting???
....and here's Sadie herself---my early-morning-walking companion---doesn't she look heroic?